USI (7-5) returns to action Sunday at 3 p.m. (CST) when it takes on No. 14 Grand Valley State University. The Eagles also play Wilmington University (Delaware) Sunday at 5:15 p.m. Both games will be carried live on 95.7 The Spin, while live stats, audio and video (FloSoftball) can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
Cedarville (4-1) 3, USI 2
The Eagles found themselves playing catchup from the start as the Yellow Jackets scored in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Back-to-back doubles by junior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) and junior outfielder Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky) pulled the Eagles into a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the first, but a Cedarville run in the third inning followed by a solo home run in the sixth put USI into a 3-1 hole with two innings to play.
Schubert, who was 2-of-3 at the plate with two RBIs, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to get the Eagles to within a single tally, but that was as close as USI would get as the Yellow Jackets held on for the win.
Senior outfielder/pitcher Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) was charged with the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, off nine hits in seven innings of work. Bradley (1-1) struck out two batters, while issuing two walks.
USI 12, Northern State (4-3) 2
Sophomore outfielder Alicia Webb (Elberfeld, Indiana) went 3-of-4 with two runs scored and a career-high four RBIs as USI’s offense exploded for 12 runs off 12 hits.
Leonhardt had a perfect game going through five-and-two-thirds innings of work and USI led 7-0 before the Wolves were able to get their first baserunner.
USI began the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning as a two-run single by Webb broke the scoreless tie.
Leonhardt and freshman utility player Kat Mueller (Evansville, Indiana) each had RBIs in a four-run fourth inning as USI extended its lead to 6-0, while an RBI-single by sophomore first baseman Haley Shouse (Borden, Indiana) put USI up 7-0 in the fifth inning.
